新视域的力量
使用你能用的一切
经文
撒迦利亚书四1-14
1那与我说话的天使又来叫醒我，好像人睡觉被唤醒一样。
2他问我说：你看见了甚么？我说：我看见了一个纯金的灯台，顶上有盏灯，灯台上有七盏灯，每盏有七个管子。
3旁边有两棵橄榄树，一棵在灯盏的右边，一棵在灯盏的左边。
4我问与我说话的天使说：主啊，这是甚么意思？
5与我说话的天使回答我说：你不知道这是甚么意思吗？我说：主啊，我不知道。
6他对我说：这是耶和华指示所罗巴伯的。万军之耶和华说：不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事。
7大山哪，你算甚么呢？在所罗巴伯面前，你必成为平地。他必搬出一块石头，安在殿顶上。人且大声欢呼说：愿恩惠恩惠归与这殿（殿：或译石）！
8耶和华的话又临到我说：
9所罗巴伯的手立了这殿的根基，他的手也必完成这工，你就知道万军之耶和华差遣我到你们这里来了。
10谁藐视这日的事为小呢？这七眼乃是耶和华的眼睛，遍察全地，见所罗巴伯手拿线铊就欢喜。
11我又问天使说：这灯台左右的两棵橄榄树是甚么意思？
12我二次问他说：这两根橄榄枝在两个流出金色油的金嘴旁边是甚么意思？
13他对我说：你不知道这是甚么意思吗？我说：主啊，我不知道。
14他说：这是两个受膏者站在普天下主的旁边。
信息分享
昨天我们分享，诗篇七十三篇的作者因为想到自己的弟兄，而避免在属灵上跌倒。那我们会问：这一切与我们有甚么关系呢？我认为这个问题的答案是：站稳脚步比立时明白更为重要。
数天前我们说诗人正站在属灵价值尺度里的低层。他当时所持守的原则是：「如果我散播我的疑惑，那会伤害我的弟兄。」我相信你和我在遇到试探时，都会想到更高层次的属灵原则来与自己争辩。那么提醒我们自己关于神过去的祝福，这个原则又如何呢？也许我们会好像诗人在诗篇四十二篇5节那样跟自己说：「我的心哪，你为何忧闷？为何在我里面烦躁？应当仰望神……」
诗人完全没有采用这些方法，他所用的方法在属灵价值上虽然看似较低，但却是有效。而这就是重点的所在：使用你能用的一切来阻止自己跌倒，不管那是多么微小或不重要。因为我们是在属灵攀登的旅途上，有时候那斜坡好像玻璃般滑溜，当你觉得快要滑倒的时候，你会伸出手来紧抓任何可以捉紧的东西，那怕只是一根小树枝。所以我们要常常停下来稳定自己的步伐；不要只把注意力放在爬高，而是要专注于避免滑跌。只要能站稳脚步，你就能够计划如何向上攀爬。
「站稳脚步比立时明白更为重要」
进深研究
林前十二21-31；出四2；士十五15；撒上十七40；王上十七12
1. 神为了达成祂的目的，使用了甚么不重要的事情？
2. 保罗怎么说？
祈祷
天父，我明白当我有滑倒的危险时，能够站稳在最细小的立足点上，总比滑进绝望深渊的好。求您帮助我掌握这真理的重要性和价值。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
The Power of a New Perspective
Use everything you can
Bible reading:
Zechariah 4:1-14
1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep.
2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.
3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.
7 "What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'"
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me:
9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 "Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?"
11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
13 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
14 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth."
Message
Having followed the experience of the psalmist, who was saved from a spiritual fall by thinking of his brethren, we now ask ourselves: What does all this have to say to us? I think the answer to that question must be this: to stand is more important than to understand.
We said a few days ago that the psalmist took his stand at a very low level on the scale of spiritual values. The principle he followed was this: "If I spread my doubts, I will harm my brethren." I am sure you and I could think of much higher spiritual principles with which to confront ourselves when tempted. What about the principle of reminding ourselves of the blessings of God in times past? Or actually talking to ourselves in the way the psalmist did in Psalm 42:5: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God...".
The psalmist employed none of these, but the one he did employ, low as it was on the scale of spiritual values, worked. And that is the point - use everything you can to stop yourself from falling, however small or insignificant it might appear to be. We are involved in spiritual mountaineering, where sometimes the slopes are like glass. When your feet slip you must reach out and hold on to anything that will stop you in your slide - even though it be only a small branch. Stop and steady yourself. Don't concern yourself about climbing, just concern yourself with stopping your slide. Once you have stopped sliding you can then plan how to climb again.
"To stand is more important than to understand"
Prayer
Father, I see that when I am in danger of slipping it is better to take advantage of the smallest foothold than to slide into the depths of despair. Help me grasp the full importance and value of this. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
1 Corinthians 12:21-31
Exodus 4:2
Judges 15:15
1 Samuel 17:40
1 Kings 17:12
1. What are some of the insignificant things God uses in his purposes?
2. How does Paul put it?
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